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“WHAT MUST I DO?”
Introduction:
-
Acts
2:37 “…men and brethren, what shall we do?”
-
Acts
9:6 “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
-
Acts
10:32-33 “…we are all present before God, to hear all the
things commanded you by God.”
-
Acts
13:15 “Men and brethren, if you have any word of
exhortation for the people, say on.”
-
Acts
16:30 “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
-
Acts
17:19 “May we know what this new doctrine is of which
you speak?”
-
Acts
22:10 “What shall I do, Lord?”
Whether
from idle curiosity or fervent desire, men have asked the
question which ought to fill the minds of all men:
“Lord, what must I do to be saved?”
This
lesson deals with the answer of the Lord and His men to this
question.
Discussion:
I)
Definition of terminology and explanation of need.
a)
What Must I Do To Be Saved?
i)
“What” – requires an answer
ii)
“Must” – indicates essentiality
iii)
“I” – makes it personal
iv)
“Do” – indicates the presence of individual response
v)
“To” – indicates “in order to” or purpose
vi)
“Be Saved” – is to be rescued or preserved unharmed and
it is passive, i.e., God does the saving (1st
person, singular, aorist 1, subj. passive of sozo)
Literally,
“Sirs, what does it behoove me to do that I might be saved?”
b)
Saved from what?
i)
Punishment due to one as a result of sin. Eze. 18:20;
Rom. 6:23; Rom. 1:18; Rom. 2:5 (Sins must be forgiven,
Eph. 1:7)
ii)
Everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord,
II Thess. 1:7-9
II)
So the question is:
a)
What must
I personally do in order that I might receive the salvation of
my soul?
i)
Some would say: Nothing, salvation is wholly of God
and there is nothing you can do.
(1)
Contra – John 3:16 – “whosoever believeth” = act
of the mind and will as a result of hearing of the gospel of
Christ. (cf. Romans 10:17)
(2)
II Thess. 2:14
(3)
Rom. 1:16
(4)
These alone indicated that there is something to
do.
ii)
Some would say: “Believe Only”
(1)
Contra James 2:24 – “You see then that by works a man
is justified, and not by faith only.”
(2)
Heb. 5:9
(3)
Rom. 1:5-6
(4)
Rom. 10:16
iii)
Some would say: “Called directly by H.S.”
(1)
Contra II Thess. 2:14
iv)
Some would say: “Call on His name.” Meaning come down
to the alter and “pray through”
(1)
Contra Matt. 7:21; etc.
b)
What Does The Bible Say?
i)
What did people teach and how did others respond in N.T.?
This will answer our question.
ii)
Look at God’s teachers and the people they taught in
the book of ACTS.
iii)
Remember our question: “What must I do to be saved?”
(1)
Acts 2:1-47 Pentecost
(a)
Jesus was preached
(b)
The people believed
(c)
Their hearts were smitten
(d)
They asked the question
(e)
There were told what to do (vs. 38) Repent and be
baptized for the remission of sins (note: remission of sins
came before or after baptism? AFTER, not before! Also note:
they were added to the church by the Lord (vs. 47)
(2)
Acts 8:5-12 Samaritans
(a)
Jesus was preached
(b)
The people believed
(c)
They were baptized
(3)
Acts 8:26-38 The Ethiopian Eunuch
(a)
Jesus was preached
(b)
He confessed his faith in Jesus
(c)
He was baptized
(4)
Acts 9:1-19; 22:16 Saul of Tarsus
(a)
Jesus appeared (for the purpose of making him an
apostle)
(b)
He was baptized, calling upon the name of the Lord
(5)
Acts 10:1-48 Cornelius
(a)
Jesus was preached
(b)
H.S. fell on them evidencing God’s acceptance of the
Gentiles (see 11:17-18)
(c)
They were baptized
(6)
Acts 16:13-15 Lydia
(a)
Taught
(b)
Baptized
(7)
Acts 16:25-33 Philippian Jailer
(a)
Jesus preached
(b)
Baptized the same hour of the night
(8)
Acts 18:1-11 Corinthians
(a)
Jesus preached
(b)
People believed
(c)
Were baptized
(9)
Acts 19:1-5 Ephesian 12
(a)
Were believers
(b)
Told about proper baptism
(c)
Were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
iv)
Note what we have seen:
(1)
As a result of the preaching of Jesus, people in the 1st
Century…
(a)
Believed in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and their Savior.
(b)
Repented of their sins.
(c)
Confessed their faith in Jesus Christ.
(d)
Were Baptized in water for the remission of their sins.
(2)
Friend, it ought to be the same today. If not, why
not?
III)
Is Baptism Necessary In Order To Be Saved?
a)
Let’s see what the Bible has to say about it:
i)
If, when baptized, you…
(1)
Put On Christ – Gal. 3:27
(2)
Wash Away Sins – Acts 22:16
(3)
Get Remission of Sins – Acts 2:38
(4)
Made Free From Sin – Rom. 6:17
(5)
Receive Benefits of His Death – Rom. 6:3-6
(6)
Enter The Body of Christ – I Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:47
ii)
Then, What Is Your State Without Baptism???
iii)
Now look at I Pet. 3:21
IV)
Is the problem one of the Bible’s being unclear on this
subject, or, is the problem unbelief of the Bible???
a)
The BASIS of our salvation is the precious shed blood
of Jesus Christ as an atonement for sin.
b)
The CONDITIONS of our salvation are:
i)
FAITH
ii)
REPENTANCE
iii)
CONFESSION
iv)
BAPTISM
v)
FAITHFUL LIVING
Conclusion: READ the following: James 1:22; Heb. 5:9; I
Peter 1:22-23; Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Matt. 7:21. |
